FAI Cup final: Seán Maguire gets last gasp winner for Cork City as they stun Dundalk

Cork City 1 (Maguire 120) Dundalk 0

By OWEN COWZER

6th November 2016, 6:30 pm

Updated: 7th December 2016, 12:44 pm

SEÁN MAGUIRE scored a last gasp goal to win Cork City the FAI Cup and deny Dundalk a double-Double.

Maguire scored as game ticked into injury time of extra time when he spun inside the box and his left foot shot took a deflection of Brian Gartland, wrong footing Gary Rogers in the Dundalk goal, and spinning into the corner.

The entire Cork bench bar manager John Caulfield spilled onto the pitch joining Maguire in the far corner celebrating as they bagged their first major trophy since 2007.

But the emotion at the end of after ending their three-year wait to finally overcome the Lilywhites when it mattered.

Three years in a row, City have finished second to Dundalk in the league. Last year, they were beaten by the Lilywhites in extra time in the FAI Cup. But today was their day.

It took all of regular time and extra time for Cork to find the breakthrough but they appeared to have the edge of a Dundalk team that looked leggy following their Europa League exploits against Zenit St Petersburg last Thursday.

Early on, they had the better chances as Daryl Horgan came close on 39 minutes when he held off Steven Beattie but his attempted chip was well read by Cork goalkeeper Mark McNulty.

And, one minute later, McNulty denied the same pair after Gearoid Morrissey was robbed off possession by Ronan Finn with Horgan sending McMillan clear only for his low shot to be turned wide.

But the second half was owned by Cork as Dundalk appeared to tire as they started giving away a lot of free kicks in dangerous areas.

Karl Sheppard and Stephen Dooley tested Gary Rogers from distance before Cork came close to opening the scoring when Dundalk’s Seán Gannon cleared an Alan Bennett header off the line.

But Dundalk regrouped and were soon on the front foot themselves again with David McMillan putting a Ronan Finn cross wide when he seemed to be impeded by his own teammate Patrick McEleney.

Yet, a Cork winner in normal time still looked the more likely as Rogers pulled off a fine double save as he palmed away a Gearoid Morrissey effort and then cleared the rebound as Seán Maguire was ready to pounce.

Rogers again came to the rescue on 83 minutes saving with his feet to deny substitute Chiedozie Ogbene who appeared to do everything right when getting on the end of low Maguire cross.

But extra time was needed which was far more cagey.

Rogers had to tip away a Ogbene cross that deflected off Dane Massey; McNulty had to dothe same from a Horgan cross while Finn shot narrowly wide.